Bottle carrier



April 12, 1949. R. ADKINS BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Dec. 26, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. EAL PH L .14DK/NS April 12, 1949.

Filed Deb. 26, 1944 R. L. ADKINS BOTTLE CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EAL PH L .14DK/NS Patented Apr. 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE CARRIER Ralph L. Adkins, Stillwater, Minn. Application December 26, 1944, Serial No. 569,813

This invention relates to devices for holding and carrying bottles of soft drinks, beer and the like.

An object of the invention is the provision of means for carrying and yieldingly holding such bottles so that any one of them can be readily removed therefrom or inserted therein.

Another object is to provide such a holder which when filled can be stacked one on another, thereby obviating the necessity for using cases as are now commonly used for handling, storing and transporting bottles of this kind from the bottling plant to the salesroom or other point where the :case is broken up for delivery to the customer.

Still another object is the provision of such a carrier which, together with its bottles, can be immersed in the water of a lake or the like to keep the contents of the bottles cold.

These and other objects as will hereinafter appear are accomplished by this invention which is fully described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a perspective view of a carrier embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial similar View showing one of the bottles being removed;

Figs. 3 and 4 are partial enlarged sections on the lines 33 and 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a modified form of carrier;

Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view of the same; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing still another form of carrier.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 4 comprises a base ll! of sheet metal or plastic having end members I2 and side members l4 bent upwardly therefrom to form a basket-like receptacle to receive the bottoms of a number of bottles B, B, B, preferably six in number, but it will be apparent that more or fewer bottles may be provided for.

A retainer I6 is yieldably supported above the bottom by a U-shaped wire bail l8 which has inwardly extending projections at its lower ends passing through openings 22 in the ends 12. The retainer is held up by friction of the wire bail pressing inwardly and the same spring of the wire holds the projections 20 in place. To insure the bail remaining upright I prefer to set the lower ends of the bail in recesses 24 in the end members. Springs 26 on the bail yieldably force the retainer down about the tapered 5 Claims. (01. 22448) necks of the bottles as will later be explained. The bail has rings 40 formed therein to receive the rounded lower ends 42 of a wire handle 44.

The bail may pass through holes in the re-' taining member Hi as shown in Fig. 2 or they may pass through slots 50 as shown in the ends of the retainer member l6 (Fig. 1). The latter permits a much easier and quicker assembling or disassembling so that the carriers can be more readily packed for shipping, the retainer member nesting within the base. g

The bail, handle and retaining member normally lie beneath the tops of the bottles but the handle when raised extends above the bottles so as to form a ready means for carrying the carrier and bottles.

Each bottle is yieldably retained in a necked recess 52 which is made to fit the tapering neck of the particular bottle it is intended for and has a narrowed entrance 54 through which the bottle can pass as it is inserted into the carrier or is removed therefrom. This is accomplished as shown in Fig. 2 by the operator lifting a corner 53 or car 55 adjacent the bottle with his thumb while he places the index finger on top the bottle which he then withdraws by rocking it outwardly as the retainer is lifted so that the entrance 54 will be opposite a smaller diameter of the tapered neck. These bottles can be inserted by a reversal of this process. Each carrier is designed to thus hold bottles of a particular size and shape such as beer bottles, bottles for certain popular soft drinks, milk bottles, etc.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown a modified form of the device in which a handle I44 is provided at each end with a long loop I46 which loops pass loosely around a bail-member H8 which has washers I and ears I62 or the like for keeping the handle centrally located on the bail, but permitting it to drop below the tops of the bottles when not in use.

In Fig. '7 is shown still another form of the carrier in which the handle 218 is made integral with the bail-member but is located centrally just below the tops of the bottles so as to permit another carrier base W to rest on top the bottles. This method of stacking can be practiced with all the other forms shown since the bail in each instance can be placed beneath the tops of the bottles.

Stainless steel or a suitable plastic can be used to prevent corrosion and the retainer and bottom lend themselves to advertising.

Thus it will be seen I have provided a simple, economical and eflicient bottle carrier which can 3 be filled with bottles at the bottling works or brewery and without removing the bottles can be handled as a unit by the wholesaler and delivered by the retailer to the ultimate consumer who can then carry the filled unit home. It is substantially made and can be used repeatedly and knocked down for reshipment to the bottling works if desired. The carrier when taken on outings can be cooled by lowering it with its bottles into a spring or lake even though tipped over the bottles will not fall out.

While I have shown and described but a few embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, may be made which do not depart from the spirit and scope ofsmy invention as disclosed in the appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A carrier for bottles of the class described comprising a base adapted to carry two rows of bottles having tapered necks, a U-shaped bail haying inwardlyprojecting ends. yieldably fitting into holes. in the. endsof the, base, said holes 10-, cated substantially midwaythe. extremities of said. ends, and; 'a retainer yieldably carried by the bailand spaced above the base and having a series of necked' recesses, each adapted to receive a, tapered neck of a bottle, the basehaving recesses for receiving thefbail to hold it upright when. there are. no bottles. inthe carrier.

2. A carrier for bottles .of the class described comprising a base adapted to carry two rows of bottles having tapered necks, a U-shaped bail having inwardly projecting ends yieldably fitting into holes ,in Ithe ends of the base, said holes located substantially midway the extremities of said ends, and a .retain er yieldablyearried by the bail and-spaced abovethe base andhaving a series of necked recesses, each adapted; to receive .a ta-, pered neck of a bottle, the ends of the, retainer being notched .to permit easy insertion or with.- drawal of the 'bail therefrom as the. retainer is raised.

, 3.; A carrier for bottles. of the class describe-d comprisinga. base adapted to. carry tworows of bottles having tapered necks,- a U.-shapedbail having inwardly projecting ends; yieldably fitting into holes' finltheends of the basegsaidholeslocated substantially; midway the extremities of said ends, and a, retainer yieldably carried by the bail and spaced above the base and having a series of necked. recesses, each adapted toreceive a. ta-

pered neck of a bottle, and a spring at each side of the bail pressing downwardly on the retainer, the ends of the retainer being notched to permit easy insertion or withdrawal of the bail therefrom as the retainer is raised.

4. A carrier for bottles of the class described comprising a base adapted to carry two rows of bottles having tapered necks, a U-shaped bail having inwardly projecting ends yieldably fitting into holesin the ends ofjthe base, said holes located substantially midway-the extremities of said ends, and a retainer yieldably carried by the bail and spaced above the base, the ends of the retainer being notched to permit easy insertion or withdrawal of the bail therefrom, the retainer having. lateral necked recesses formed to fit the taperingneck of a particular size and shape of bottle so that a bottle may be rocked into or out ojretaining position by lifting up on the retainer near the point where that bottle is located.

5. A carrier for bottles of the class described comprising a base, a retainer above the base and having a necked recess for each bottle to be held, carrying. means. secured to the base and passing through the-retainer, and spring means on the carrying means yieldingly holding the retainer down about thetapering necked, upper portions of the bottles but permitting .an adjacent portion of the retainer to, be raised to allow a smaller portion of the tapering neck of the bottl'eto be swung outwardly through the necked recess to. release that bottle from the retainer.

RALPH L. ADKENS.

REFERENCES *CITED The following references are-of record in the file of. this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,112,300 Ligeour. Sept. 29, 1914 1,411,695 Hackett Apr. 4,; 1922 1,728,512 Sharp Sept. 17, 1929 1,992,657 Fontan Feb. 26,1935 2,265,877 Smith Dec. 9, 1941 2,303,240 Strong Nov, 24, 1942 2,333,75'? Whitaker Nov.. 9, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS I Number Country Date 667. Great Britain Jan. 10, 1911 373,716 Great Britain June 2, 1932 

